Last-block fastener



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEi CHARLES H. GAFFNEY, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAST-BLOCK FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 451,759, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed August 20, 1890. Serial No. 362,529 (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. GAFENEY, of Gloucester, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Last-Block Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in last-block fasteners; and it consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, which will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

The objects of my invention are to fasten the block to the last, so as to prevent the block from moving while in the boot or shoe that is being made; to provide means whereby the block can be adjusted so as to give any re quired height of instep; to do away with the constant wear of a last caused by constant tacking in fastening the block to the last, and to enable several diferent sizes of boots or shoes to be made on one last.

Figure lis a vertical section of a last to which my invention is applied. Figs. 2 and 3 are detached views of the two parts of the fastening.

A represents the last, and B the block,`

which have the vertical slots C D formed through them, as shown, to receive the parts of the fastening.

Placed in the slot D is the support G, which is preferably made of the shape shown, and which is supported in position by means of a nailorpinILwhich passeshorizontallythrough the last, as shown, and which serves to prevent the support from dropping below a certain point. In the lower end of the support G is formed a suitable recess, through which the pin H passes, and which recess allows the support to be raised, but will not allow it to drop below a certain point. l

The upper end of the support G is cutaway or beveled, as shown, and through this upper end is formed a vertical slot, in which the plate E catches. Applied to the front beveled side or edge of this support G is the triangular-shaped block F, having a ratchet formed in the front edge of its upper front corner and projecting backward from this block, and through the slot in the upper end of the support. G is the plate E, which serves both to keep the block and the support always in a line with each other, and over which the lower end of the latch catches for the purpose of preventing any lateral play of the latch and the block to which it is secured. The support G and block F are intended to move together, although they are made separate, and when it is desired to raise the block, so as to give a greater height of instepd the latch must be in engagement with the support, the block, and the plate E, when they are moved upward through the last, so that their upper ends project above its top.

Secured to either the top of thelast or placed in the same slot with the block and support is a suitable spring I, which engages with the ratchet in the block for the purpose of holding the support and block at any desired elevation. This spring engages at its upper end with the ratchet upon the block F, and sup ports both the block and support in such a manner as to hold the rear end of the block B in a raised position. The higher the rear end of the block is raised the higher the instep of the boot or shoe being made will be.

Pivoted at J in the block B is the latch L, which is preferably circular, as here shown, and which has at its upper end an eye or projection N extending above the top of the block B, and in which the ordinary last-hook is to be made to catch when the block Bis to be loosened from the last. The lower corner of this latch extends downward any suitable distance, and has aslot made in its lowerend, so that it will straddle over the top of the plate E for the purpose of preventing the latch from having any lateral movement. This downwardly-projecting point upon the latch extends down in between the upper ends of the support G and block F, as shown, and serves to bind the block B to the last. Applied to this latch L is a spring P, which is placed in the recess C with the latch,and which has one end connected to the latch, as shown, and the other end made to catch under the projection Q for the purpose of holding the latch L in contact with the support G, and thus prevent the latch from becoming unfast- IOO ened when the boot or shoe is turned upside down or from being jarred loose. This latch I. has a turning movement upon its pivot J, but no other. Vhen left free to move, the spring P causes the latch to engage With the support G, block F, and plate E, as shown, and thus lock the two parts rigidly in position. It the block B is not to be raised at its rear end for the purpose of forming a high instep, itrests upon the top of the last in the usual manner, and the latch and support G engage sufficiently to prevent the rear end of the block from having any lateral movement. Should it be desired to raise the rear end of the block B to form a high instep, the support G is raised, and is held in this raised position by the spring I. The lower edge of the latch L resting upon the top of the support G, the rear end of the block is raised correspondingly, and, owing to the interlocking of thelatch and support, the block is held in position.

By thus adjusting the rear end of the block all necessity for nailing pat-ches or pieces upon the block B for the purpose of forming a high instep is done away with, and differentsized boots or shoes can be made upon the same last. This construction also enables the manufacture of boots and shoes to be carried on with less inconvenience and eX- pense than is otherwise possible, owing to the fact that any desired adjustment can be made in a moment.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination, with the last having a vertical opening and a support Within the opening, adapted to be adjusted vertically and held rigidly at different heights, of a block having a latch adapted to engage the adjustable support, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the last and its block, each provided with slots, of a latch pivoted to the block, an adjustable support in the last-slot, a ratchet-block engaging the support, and a stop engaging the ratchetblock for supporting it, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the last provided with a vertical slot through its rear end, a pin or projection extending across the lower end of the slot, the vertically-adjustable support, the ratcheted block, a plate for looselyconnecting the upper ends of the block and the support, and the spring which engages with the ratcheted block, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the last having a vertical opening, of a vertical support within the opening, having its upper end cut away and provided with a vertical slot, a ratchetplate havinga projection which fits in the said slot, the last block having a latch provided with a slot in its lower end, which engages the ratchet-plate projection, and a spring which engages the ratchet-block, suhstantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. GAFFN EY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD BABsoN, RALPH BRYANT. 

